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What in the World is a Blue Zone?

By Suzi Hoge
Posted: 11/21/2024

Blue Zones are areas of the world where folks tend to live longer --- and live better as judged by some. 

Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida in 1513, reportedly searching for the “fountain of youth.” In the 1550’s Italian Luigi Cornaro wrote “The Art of Living Long.”  In 2000, Dr. Michael Poulain, a Belgium demographer a circled an area where longevity occurred in Sardinia with a blue pencil on a map.  Many centuries later, Dan Buettner coined the term Blue Zones. The identified areas are Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Loma Linda, California, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, and the island of Ikaria, Greece. In each of these areas folks were healthier, lived longer, remained active longer and Alzheimer’s tended to begin later. 

Research was undertaken to identify what these various geographic areas have in common.  These were distilled into 9 “solutions”.

1. Move Naturally – Move throughout the day; don’t delegate physical work but participate in gardening, walking, cleaning, etc.

2. Stop eating when your stomach is 80% full (Hara Hachi Bu) –  There is a difference between no longer hungry and being full.  Work to stop when you are no longer hungry.  Some strategies include a smaller plate, not having seconds, eat slowly and focus on enjoying your food, sit down and have a meal.

3. Eat more plants – The Blue Zone area foods are mainly beans, whole grains, and garden vegetables. Increase your vegetables to 4 – 6 servings a day, while limiting meat intake.  Include a handful of nuts daily as well as beans. 

4. Friends at Five/Wine at Five – Having a daily glass of red wine while relaxing with friends and/or family.  Or enjoying a different beverage and handful of nuts.

5. Purpose – Everyone needs a purpose in their life, “ikigai” to the Okinawans or “plan de vida” for the Costa Ricans. Research has linked a sense of purpose to longevity. A purpose may be a simple one related to family or a favorite activity --- or based on a new learning.

6. Relaxation – Rest, relaxation, socialization are necessary ingredients.  Work to reduce the use of social media and informational noise. Work to decrease stress; arrive places a few minutes early, meditate.

7. Connect with religion and/or spirituality -   A sense of belonging and connecting to social networks is a positive factor in cultivating peace of mind.

8. Loved Ones First – Look back to your family for connection and closeness.  Get physically closer to your family if possible – share a home.  Sit down to a family meal each day.  Cultivate family rituals such as Sunday dinners or a family vacation.  Consider displaying family photographs and valued items --- as part of that connectedness.  Consciously invest time in your family.

9. Right tribe – Hanging out with other folks who are also working to incorporate positives into their lifestyles really helps you. Think walking group, book club, service club, etc.

Don’t these concepts sound familiar?  Especially in view of Pasadena Village life?

The Blue Zones concepts are now available via books, website, coaches, classes, and a huge international organization. But these concepts are also easily distilled and followed without all the rigamarole. 

We are part of a small Task Force that is working to bring the Blue Zones concepts to Pasadena.  We are supported by Rick Cole, incoming City Council Person, as well as local agencies. Rick say, “It’s when, not if, Blue Zones coming to Pasadena.”   While Blue Zone strategies would benefit all people in many ways, we would like to pilot using these concepts with folks with disabilities, especially those with Down Syndrome who have a much higher rate of Alzheimer's.